We are quickly approaching 2026 and it is easy to think about everything we want to accomplish in the New Year.

Hitting the gym, getting out of debt, getting that next promotion, etc.

When we dream about implementing a new habit into our lives, we are really good at thinking about the How.

But we often ignore the Why completely.

And the Why is what will instill the habit into your life.

Another way of defining your Why is list out the incentives you are searching for.

For example, you are incentivized to workout because it gives you energy, allows you to be mobile, and is recommended for a healthy lifestyle.

But even those incentives are not enough to keep people consistently working out.

So, let’s create our own incentives to help you make 2026 a success.

Incentives work the best when you receive a substantial reward for doing a challenging task.

They also work best with other people to help you stay accountable.

Instead of your new year’s resolution being “I want to go to the gym more”

What if it was a deal you made with your best friend, “Whoever misses the workout has to pay the other person $50.”

Now you are a little bit more incentivized to not miss that work out.

While that last example is a form of negative incentive (still very effective), positive incentives are even better.

Last year I told my wife that if we paid off all of our debt then we could go to Europe.

And sure enough we paid off early and went to Europe.

If you are serious about making a change in your life then increase the incentives for positive habits.

And decrease the incentives for negative habits.

As we go into the new year don’t just think about What and How you are going to achieve your new year’s resolution.

Think about the Why too.

Go out and make a difference.